Former Indian left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi feels that Indian spinners should go early in England to adopt the unfamiliar condition.
India will play three-match T20I series, three-match ODI series and five-match Test series during their English tour, starting from July 3. Joshi feels that Indian spinners should spend a week or at least 10 days and bowl in different weather conditions will help them to make comfortable prior to the important series.
Joshi told Sportstar, “Spinners should go early and feel the conditions better. Straightaway going there and playing a three-day game or a four-day game may not help them. Spending a week or at least 10 days and bowling in different weather conditions will be more comfortable for the Indian spinners.”
Joshi claimed that the breeze plays an important role in England and that needs to adapt well for getting success in international cricket.
48-year-old said, “In England, breeze plays an important role. When the sun comes out, the wind will be there. The conditions will be chillier when it is cloudy. You got to have a specific objective to counter it. That needs to be addressed.”
Joshi believes that the spinners play more important and responsible roles in the present cricket.
The present Bangladesh spin-bowling coach said, “Today, spinners are not just bowlers, they are wicket-takers in all formats of the game. At times, you can shift roles, but you cannot write off-spinners from a particular format.”
BCCI has already announced the limited-overs squads for the upcoming English tour where Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav are the specialist spinners along with the all-rounder Washington Sundar.
While Chahal and Kuldeep performed brilliantly during the South Africa tour in early this year, Joshi believes the English tour will be harder and more challenging for them.
Joshi said, “We all know what [Yuzvendra] Chahal and Kuldeep [Yadav] did [in South Africa]. England will not have the same surfaces. Bowling with and against the breeze is challenging there. The young spinners should be able to negotiate that.
“You need to know your spinners, who would withstand in all the five Tests, and who would be your back-up. I am sure the Indian coaching staff will have this in mind.”
Speaking on what should keep in mind by every player, Joshi said, “Be it a star player or not, one has to go through the routines. Your inconsistency will come when you miss routines. So, bottom-line is, be it, anyone, you have to tick all the boxes required to be a top performer for the team.”
